Bipartisan Effort In Maryland Aims To Decriminalize Small Amounts Of Marijuana

On Wednesday, two state senators introduced a bipartisan decriminalization effort that would make the possession of under 10 grams of weed a civil offense. Currently in Maryland, someone caught with any amount of cannabis could be fined $500 and put behind bars for three months.

The new decriminalization bill, SB 364, would punish adult offenders with fines and force minors to attend substance abuse classes.

State Sen. Bobby Zirkin (D-Baltimore County), who wrote the bill with Kittleman, failed to pass a similar law during last year's legislative session. But, as the Sun notes, this year's bill would force minors to appear in court. According to Zirkin, this will make offenders "realize the significance" of the offense.